Collaboration or Competition? Responses to Research Data Management in UK Higher Education by Librarians, IT Professionals, and Research Administrators

Verbaan, Eddy; Cox, Andrew M.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/47294 Copy

Description

Title

Collaboration or Competition? Responses to Research Data Management in UK Higher Education by Librarians, IT Professionals, and Research Administrators

Author(s)

• Verbaan, Eddy
• Cox, Andrew M.

Issue Date

2014-03-01

Keyword(s)

• research data management
• support of research
• academic libraries
• IT services
• research administration
• professions
• system of professions

Abstract

"Purpose. Effective Research Data Management (RDM) has become an increasing concern in UK universities as a result of being mandated by research funders. The study uncovered how librarians, IT staff and research administrators viewed support of RDM and how they thought roles would be distributed amongst them. It used Abbott's theory of the professions as a way of conceptualising the underlying dynamics. Methodology: Data was collected through 20 semi-structured interviews with staff in the Library, IT Services and Research Office of a research intensive university of middling size in Northern England. Findings: The different professional services viewed RDM differently. Broadly speaking, IT focussed on short term data storage; the research office on compliance and research quality; librarians on preservation and advocacy. The Library was the only department claiming a new jurisdiction in RDM. The other departments claimed to be short of resources to take on such a complex project. Some interviewees feared RDM might be a ""poisoned chalice"". Research implications: Abbott's (1988) concept of jurisdiction is a useful lens on how RDM services are emerging. Originality/value: The paper offers an early perspective on how support of RDM is being developed, from a theory of the professions perspective."

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2014 Proceedings

Type of Resource

text

Language

english

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/47294

DOI

https://doi.org/10.9776/14084

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Copyright 2014 is held by the authors of individual items in the proceedings. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

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